Verge cutting in Cheddar and the surrounding area is due to start next month despite the country potentially still being in lockdown.

During the growing season Somerset County Council carries out a number of environmental maintenance operations to help keep all road users safe.

The aim is to preserve visibility sight lines at junctions and bends, provide a safe area for pedestrians if there is no pavement, and to protect wildlife on roadside verges, where this does not conflict with safety requirements.

Highway verges are cut to a minimum of one metre in width from the road side to provide a safe area for pedestrians, preserve visibility and help the flow of surface water along the road. Visibility sight lines are also cut on bends and near road signs.

Each highway verge, including junctions, will be cut once during this season, except on the A road and B road network where the road verges and junctions are cut twice.

In certain areas, particularly urban housing estates, grass cutting may be carried out by district or parish councils.

The first cut for A and B roads takes place from May 11 to June 7 depending on the rate of growth, and in the Cheddar area verges on the following roads will be cut during this time in this order:

Sedgemoor:

A371 Draycott to A371 Axbridge

A38 Rooksbridge

B3139 Wedmore

B3151 Meare Road

Mendip:

B3371 Yoxter

B3135 junction with the A37 to Cheddar

A371 Shepton Mallet to Cheddar

B3134 Burrington junction

B3135 Miner's Arms Crossroads

Verges on minor roads will be cut between June 8 and August 2 depending on the rate of growth, and in the Cheddar area verges in the following parishes will be cut during this time and in this order:

Shipham

Axbridge

Draycott

Cheddar

Compton Bishop

Chapel Allerton

Badgworth

Mark

Weare

Wedmore

The second cut of A and B roads will take place between August 3 and September 30, and will run in the same order as the first cut listed above, after which environmentally-protected sites will be cut.

Verge cutting may be affected by the weather and the dates may change. Work generally takes place during the day from 7am to 7pm with traffic sensitive routes avoided during peak times.

No road closures are necessary, however, given the travelling speed of machinery required to ensure a qood quality cut, minor delays are possible on the smaller lanes.